Liverpool changed long-term plans to hand Jurgen Klopp a new quality

For a club that prides itself on strategic, long-term planning, there has been an element of opportunism as the stars have aligned in Liverpool’s favour this year.

It would be stretching the boundaries of fairness to claim the ongoing progression has been fortuitous, but Jurgen Klopp has certainly made hay as the sun has shone over Anfield in 2022.

Even the best laid of plans are sometimes forced to be tweaked and rolling with the punches is what has kept Liverpool on course as they close in on another Champions League final.

Take, for example, the decision to move for Luis Diaz at the end of the January transfer window. If Klopp had his way, the Colombia international would still be tormenting defences in Portugal. It was only for Tottenham's late move for the then Porto man that forced Liverpool's hand in the market.

That director of loan pathways, David Woodfine, and club doctor, Jim Moxon, were forced to hastily cobble together a route to Argentina in the closing hours of the January window to conclude Diaz's medical is proof enough that plans, sometimes, can change.

Liverpool's success has not only been derived from their meticulous planning and forward-thinking, but also their adaptability to changes in the story-arch.

A shining example of that has been Joe Gomez, who has been unable to collect game-time this season in his most favoured role in the centre of defence. With Joel Matip remaining injury free and Ibrahima Konate adapting seamlessly to Liverpool's preferred method of defending, Gomez has been made to bide his time.

The former Charlton youngster has started just three league games this term, all as a right-back while Trent Alexander-Arnold has been rested. It’s not the ideal scenario for Gomez but his